Two held, cops look for SP worker who hired bouncers to 'guard' tomatoes
Varanasi (UP), Jul 10: Police have arrested a vegetable shop owner and his son over a video in which a Samajwadi Party worker is seen with two "bouncers" purportedly hired to "protect" high-priced tomatoes.
The SP worker Ajay Fauji -- who had portrayed himself as the shop owner is absconding, Ashwani Pandey, the SHO of Varanasi's Lanka police station, said on Monday.
Jagnarayan Yadav and his son Vikas Yadav were arrested Sunday for "defamation", police said. On video, the SP worker had claimed that he deployed two bouncers to deal with customers haggling over the price of tomatoes.
The SP has been attacking the BJP government over the rising prices of the commodity.
Fauzi had cut a tomato-shaped cake and distributed tomatoes to mark party president Akhilesh Yadav's birthday recently.
Police said a case has been registered under sections 153 (provocation with intent to cause riot), 291 (continuance of nuisance after injunction to discontinue) and 505 (statements conducive to public mischief) of the Indian Penal Code.
On Sunday, Akhilesh Yadav tweeted over the detention of one of the vegetable seller who he said was merely drawing the attention of the government on an issue of public interest.
In another tweet in Hindi on Monday, the SP chief said there was "no space" for satire and sarcasm in the country.
वाराणसी में महंगाई जैसे जनहित के विषय पर सरकार का ध्यानाकर्षण करनेवाले सब्ज़ीवाले को थाने में बिठाना कहाँ तक उचित है। इस समाचार के फैलने से प्रदेशभर के समस्त सब्ज़ी विक्रेता आक्रोशित हो रहे हैं। उस सब्ज़ीवाले को तुरंत छोड़ा जाए।
— Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) July 9, 2023
जिस देश-प्रदेश में स्वस्थ व्यंग्य और कटाक्ष के लिए स्थान न हो वहाँ समझ लेना चाहिए, दूसरों को डरानेवाली सत्ता, स्वयं डरी हुई है। ‘मदर ऑफ़ डेमोक्रेसी’ की बात इस माहौल में बेमानी जुमला लगती है। देश के प्रमुखतम संसदीय क्षेत्र में लोकतंत्र का ये हाल है तो बाकी देश में क्या होगा।
— Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) July 10, 2023
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KKR defeat LSG via Super Over
Lucknow (PTI): Kolkata Knight Riders edged Lucknow Super Giants via Super Overs in a battle between two bottom-placed teams in the IPL, here on Sunday.
Chasing a modest 156, LSG suffered a batting collapse and managed to tie the contest and take it to Super Over with No. 9 Mohammed Shami striking a last-ball six against a wayward Kartik Tyagi, who leaked 16 runs in the final over.
But Sunil Narine bowled a stunning Super Over conceding just one run and taking two wickets to give KKR an easy target.
Rinku Singh then finished the chase with a boundary off first ball from Prince Yadav.
Earlier the KKR were in deep trouble with 93/7 in 15 overs but Rinku smashed a sensational 83 not out from 51 balls including four sixes in a row in the final over to lift them to 155/7.
Cameron Green (34) was the only other batter to reach double-digit scores as KKR suffered a familiar batting meltdown with Mohsin taking his maiden fifer.
In reply, LSG continued their dismal show with the bat to succumb to their fifth loss in a row.
Brief Scores:
Kolkata Knight Riders 155/7; 20 overs (Rinku Singh 83 not out, Cameron Green 34; Mohsin Khan 5/23). Lucknow Super Giants 155/8; 20 overs (Rishabh Pant 42). KKR won via Super Over.
